15-year old all-rounder Jehan Daniel starred with both bat and ball to guide St. Joseph’s College to a first-innings win over St. Sebastian’s College in their under 19 division 1 cricket encounter played at Moratuwa.
The fast-bowling all-rounder captured a four-wicket haul after his superb 80 runs with the bat to announce his name as the next cricket star to watch out in the future and he is from the school which produced many national and under 19 cricket stars in recent times.
The home team won the toss and opted to field on Friday morning on a good surface. The host fast-bowlers struck thrice early on to restrict Josephians to 11 for 3. The young batting brigade of Darley Road combined perfectly to put up a good score on the board thanks to few gritty knocks by Kevin Corteling (51) and Nipun Sumanasinghe (40). The main key point of Josephian innings was Jehan Daniel’s 83-ball 80 which comprised nine fours and three sixes. Fast-bowler Kusal Lakthilina captured a five-wicket haul for 45 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 223.
Resuming from their overnight score of 101 for 3, The Sebs toiled hard for runs with seamer Jehan Daniel bowling superbly to make life difficult of the young batsmen from Moratuwa. Opening batsman Praveen Perera top-scored with 71 runs while middle-order batsman Asheer Warnakulasuriya scored 42 runs. Apart of Daniel’s 4 wickets, vice-captain and off-spinner Hashindra Perera took 2 wickets while left-arm spinner Harin Cooray captured 2 scalps. The hosts were bundled out for 201 in the 81st over.
The visitors batted out the rest of day 2 giving precious batting form and time in the middle for their top order. Skipper Pathum Madusanka scored a patience 47 runs while one-drop batsman Sandaruwan Rodrigo stroked a brilliant 70 runs in 107 balls with 10 fours. Josephians ended on 166 for 3.
Chief Scores:
Joes (1st inn) – 223 all out in 58.4 overs: Jehan Daniel 80, Kevin Corteling 51, Nipun Sumanasinghe 40, Shewon Fonseka 32, Kusal Lakthilina 5/45, Lahiru Heshan 2/40.
Sebs (1st inn) – 201 all out in 80.2 overs: Praveen Perera 71, Asheer Warnakulasuriya 42, Jehan Daniel 4/51, Harin Cooray 2/32, Hashindra Perera 2/28.
Joes (2nd inn) – 166/3 in 51 overs: Sandaruwan Rodrigo 70, Pathum Madusanka 47, Kevin Corteling 23*.